Erica R. Plappert • SLM 521

In this assignment, I examine two classroom scenarios to determine if

the actions are legal and/or allowable.

1. A teacher allows her students to make power point presentations on sports, war, hunting, rock music and such. She lets them get graphics from anywhere on the Internet including sites such as Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and Rock Music Hall of Fame.

The Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia (1996 – Consortium of College and University Media Centers) allow students to use copyrighted works to create educational multimedia projects for fulfilling course requirements. Therefore, in this scenario, the presentations would probably be allowable. Yet, it is important

that the students credit their sources, display any copyright notices, and provide the copyright ownership information. The presentations should also include a notice on the first screen indicating that certain materials are included and have been prepared under the Fair Use exemption and guidelines of U.S. Copyright Law. In addition, no unnecessary copies of the presentations should be made and they should be used strictly in the classroom. Lastly, material is limited to up to five photographs or illustrations by one person and no more than 15 images or ten percent from a single work. It is important to note here that kindergarten through sixth grade students are exempt from adhering strictly to portion limits, so that may affect my review of this scenario. In conclusion, this scenario would probably be allowable, but attention should be paid to the guidelines indicated above.

2. I create Web links to the CBS - David Letterman Web page, the Right to Life and the Right to Choice web pages on my school's home page. My principal instructs me to remove them from the schools links.

When posting links to other Web pages, it is usually okay as long as the URL and title of site are all that is included. Yet, school districts are liable for any copyright infringement by their staff. School websites are especially vulnerable. Furthermore, school districts have a responsibility to the community to have their interest and values in mind. Therefore, if your principal instructs you to remove links that you have created on your school web page, do it. He or she may have copyright infringement in mind or may simply be considering the communities perspective. Either way, you must respect his or her decision and remove the links immediately. In conclusion, though I would most likely be okay legally in this scenario, this practice is not allowable by the principal.